Updated
Eddie Obeid's involvement in coal licences in the state's central-west are the subject of a corruption inquiry.
The finances of Sydney's Obeid family were in the spotlight in two different courts on Monday.
Moses Obeid, the son of former Labor minister Eddie Obeid, has started a Supreme Court appeal against a ruling that his company Streetscapes had to pay the City of Sydney Council $12 million for selling smart poles overseas behind its back.
Streetscape was given a contract to make the poles, which are capable of displaying signs and banners, before the Sydney Olympics and are still used across the CBD and other areas.
Last year, a court ruled Moses Obeid and Streetscape breached a licensing agreement with the council over use of the smart pole technology.
A court found the company profited millions of dollars from selling the poles overseas without paying royalties.
The court ordered Streetscape to pay the council $12 million, but he argued his company - which is in the hands of Obeid-appointed administrators - does not have the money.
Earlier this year, a judge who rejected Moses Obeid's claim that he cannot pay the money raised doubts about his and his brother Paul's evidence.
On Monday, lawyers for Moses Obeid told a three-judge panel in an appeals court they would raise issues about confidentiality and copyright.
Staff conflict
Meanwhile, a few streets away at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), a public inquiry continues into allegations the Obeids and their associates stood to profit $100 million from decisions made about mining licences by former Labor minister Ian Macdonald.
They are accused of buying large pockets of land in the Bylong Valley just before coal licences were issued, and trying to hide their involvement through complex company structures and trusts.
Dr Richard Sheldrake, who used to work in the Department of Primary Industries with Mr Macdonald, spoke of the relationship breakdown between Mr Macdonald, who was then the minister, and another staffer who disagreed with him over mining tenders.
The staff member, Alan Coutts, was swiftly transferred to the Food Authority.
Dr Sheldrake acknowledged that transferring Mr Coutts out of the department meant a loss of 11 years of high-level experience to the Department of Primary Industries.
'Under duress'
Another witness, Arlo Selby, denied being dishonest in his ICAC statement.
"When you made the statement did you fill it up with lies?" Commissioner David Ipp asked him angrily.
When the witness was vague about answering a question Mr Ipp later snapped, "just answer it yes or no".
Mr Selby said other people had been involved in preparing the statement and that one of them was now in jail.
He said his statement was signed under duress.
But Mr Selby admitted having property dealings with Moses Obeid.
He said he recalled Moses Obeid was looking for finance to buy properties and had mentioned that properties in the Bylong Valley would go up significantly in value.
Mr Selby said Moses Obeid had mentioned to people that his father was in parliament and could organise certain things.
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